When to Replace Cables on Your Climber

By Moultrie

April 9, 2018

April 9, 2018

Moultrie

At Summit, we engineer all of our products for serious use. But that doesn't mean we make them to be abused or neglected. Case in point, our climbers are popular because year-after-year hunters know they can rely on them to perform. With a little preventative maintenance, there's every reason to believe your Summit climber will soldier on for many years to come. The cables, in particular, deserve attention. We recommend a close inspection before every season begins. Here are a few cable tips to help keep you safe.

The coating is for silence.The plastic coating on Summit cables is designed to reduce noise. It is not intended to add weather resistance or structural integrity. Expect to see wear on the external surface of your cables—abrasions, peeling, and cuts are all likely. When you see this type of wear, it's time to take action. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of the wear turning into something more serious like corrosion damage and frayed or broken cable wires. When damage like that is observed, replacement is necessary.

Shrink tubing is easy.If the wear is superficial, a simple replacement of the plastic sheathing is all that's needed to maintain your cables. Summit Replacement Shrink Tubing for Climbing Treestand Cables is the exact replacement for your existing cable's plastic exterior. Shrink tubing is easy to use. You just slide it over the length of the cable and apply heat to shrink the plastic around the cable. Lighters and candles are often used, but both of those methods risk melting the plastic tubing. The easiest way is to use a heat gun. A few passes are usually all it takes. Some blow dryers might be up to the task as well, though they'll likely take longer.

Easier still.If applying shrink tubing isn't your thing, or your cables are showing signs of significant wear, you'll need Summit Replacement Cables for Climbing Treestands. Sold in pairs, these factory replacement parts make it easy to have peace of mind when using your climber next season.